177-10002-10069

| 2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992 |
. JFK Assassination System Date: 8/26/20 1
Identification Form

Agency Information

AGENCY:  LBJ
RECORD NUMBER: — 177-10002-10069
RECORD SERIES: NSF, COUNTRY FILE, MEXICO, LOPEZ MATEOS VISIT, BOX 61

AGENCY FILE NUMBER:

Document Information

ORIGINATOR: = STATE
FROM: DEAN RUSK
TO: THE PRESIDENT
TITLE;
DATE: 02/18/1964
PAGES: 5
SUBJECTS :
NEED SUBJECT ASSIGNED
DOCUMENT TYPE: MEMORANDUM
CLASSIFICATION: — Unclassified
RESTRICTIONS: 1B; 4
CURRENT STATUS: —Redact
DATE OF LASTREVIEW: 04/21/1998
_ OPENING CRITERIA :
COMMENTS : DOC. #9

v9.1
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“ME
Ny

ADDRESS OFFICIAL COMMUNICATIONS TO
“THE SECRETARY OF STATE
WASHINGTON 25, D.C.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE 4 hk ss

WASHINGTON
Wwe
wa

A

wi

SECRET FEB 48 ‘fa

MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT

Subject: Your Meeting with President Lopez Mateos

We do.not expect to make any major political decisions
but want to give new emphasis to the friendly relations
which exist between Mexico and the United States. These
relations are now at an all-time nigh Mexico felt it had
a real friend in President Kennedy. they feel the same

warm Texas handshake and abrazo when you greet Lopez Mateos
at Los Angeles would symbolize the continuance of that
relationship.

We want to stress the identity of interests of our two
countries and our ability to work out in the "spirit of

EL Chamiz. Chamizal" any problems that may arise between us.

Despite the informal atmos ere of the visit, we
should give scrupulous attention to Mexico's extreme
sensitivity on sovereign. equality and Mexico's strong
desire to avoid any appearance of subservience to the
United States.

Lopez Mateos

no important decision is made without his approval. He
has followed an “independent” foreign policy but knows

that good relations with us, especially in the economic
sphere, are essential to his country. At times his foreign
policy has been too independent--for example on Cuba and in
commercial and cultural relations with Communist China.

But
SECRET
GROUP 2
Exempted from

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SWE Wave. Sued ly

und hin understanding and willing to be helpful--controlling
travel of Castro agents, hon-recognition of Red China, offer-
ing help on Panama, m

Lopez Mateos has chosen his successor, Gustavo DEAZ
Ovdaz, who will take office in December 1964 after elections
in July. Power is. therefore driftin toward Diaz Ordaz.

Enclosed is a paper on points which it La suggested
you raise at the meeting, and those which it is believed
Lopez Mateos will raise,

7s Beam Ruake

Dean Rusk

Enelosure:

Paper on points to be
vaised at the meeting

Bocld: 3272705112 Page 3

We desire te continue close working relations with
Mexieo both within and outside the OAS and the UN.

We hope Mexico will continue to use its key political
and geographic position to help control Castre/Cemnunism.
_ F : si

: = a: ag at. his
'. Mexico's attention. We welcome ‘Mexico’ 's assistance within
/ an OAS context. ,

2, Red China

The coming visit of De Gaulle to Mexico and Brazil in
March has prompted speculation that these two countries
are about to recognize Red China. Lopez Mateos has given
us secret assurances, through CIA channels, that he has
no intention of recognizing B Red China, ce

|. Mexico's participation in the Alliance is essential

te its guccess. Mexice has played a leading role in IA*ECOSOC
and has named the Director General of the Bank of Mexico as
its representative to CIAP. It has cooperated with us in
providing extensive training facilities for Latin American
technicians, We want to enéourage Mexico to make a greater

contribution

SECRET

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SECRET
o2~ i

. eentribution. Mexico is making renewed efforts te promote
private enterprise and we also want to encourage Mexico
along thie line. We should continue te cooperate with
Mexicéd in malataining financial stability and promoting
economie development. .

There remain several tracta on the Ric Grande ever
which sovereignty is in dispute. We desire to have the
¥nternational Boundary and Water Commission study these
problems and cecommend a solution.

Mexico and the United States are cooperating in
controlling the importation of narcotics and dangerous
drugs into the United States. We should strengthen this
cooperation in the mutual interest of both countries. We
hope therefore that Mexico will agree to periodic meetings
of the highest law enforcement officers of the two countries.

6. Desalinization

Flant 62

An appraisal report by Interior ehows that this is
the most ecénomical way to 6upply water to Tijuana. We
are prepared to ge ahead with a feasibility study if
Mexico desires and will share the cost.

The Mexican President wants a reaffirmation of Presi-
dent Kennedy's commitment "to réach a permanent and effect-
ive solution at the earliest possible time" of the salinity
problem. We ean agree but. should avoid any commitment
timing. If Lopez Mateos raises the related problem of the

: groundwater

t
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=e .

groundwater recovery program at Yuma, we agree that the
Boundary Commission should study the problem. Farmers

in the lower Rio Grande Valley are seriously concerned
about saline drainage discharged into the river by Mexice
and want the Boundary Commission to achieve an early
solution to this problem.

2.

| The Mexiean Government is privately seriously
disturbed about the termination of | this rogram. €on-
al op: to it. sbyor moh not.

oroblen to see if thing ean be done to help Mexico. one
| possibility is an expanded commmity development program
i in Mexieo through private channels (P.L.480 foodstuffs
through U, 5. voluntary agencies) if Mexico is interested.

Mexico is concerned about United States restrictions
or thraatened restrictions on textiles, lead, zine and
meat and other products and United States cotton policies
which it claims hurt Mexican cotton exports to the world
market. We veeognize that we are natural markets for each
| other, We desire to expand trade, promote competition and
develop markets. We want to maintain er expand the present
level of ancess te each other’ s market but er not
} a ; : ; sie 4

| Lopez Mateos wants to be recorded in history as the

man who returned the Mexican flag te the Chamizal. He

wants a cerémony at the Presidential level at El Pase-Giudad
Juarez before December 1964 to symbolize the Chamizal settle-
ment. We Should only. Kee. £9. gonsul.t Lats ax in the year on

it
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